消防事務處年報 FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT Annaul Report 1966-1967

KONG

ANNUAL

DEPARTMENTAL

REPORTS

1966-67

DIRECTOR OF

FIRE SERVICES

HONG KONG

ANNUAL DEPARTMENTAL REPORT

BY THE

ACTING DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES

E. L. HANLON, G.M., O.ST.J.,

M.I.FIREE.

FOR THE

FINANCIAL YEAR 1966 - 67

PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY J. R. LEE, Acting GOVERNMENT PRINTER

at the GovERNMENT PRESS, Java ROAD, HONG KONG

EXCHANGE RATES

When dollars are quoted in this Report, they are, unless otherwise stated, Hong Kong dollars. The official rate for conversion to pound sterling is HK$16=£1 (HK$1=1s. 3d.). The official rate for conversion to U.S. dollars is HK$5.714=US$1 (based on £1=US$2.80).

56302-12K-11/67

CONTENTS

GENERAL SURVEY OF THE YEAR

LUNAR NEw Year

CAUSES OF Fires

SUMMARY OF CALLS

SKIN DIVING SERVICE .

AMBULANCE SERVICE

•

AIRPORT CONTINGENT

AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE

RECRUITING AND TRAINING.

Search And Rescue RESOURCES .

•

BUILDING ACCOMMODATION .

PHYSICAL TRAINING AND EDUCATION

WELFARE AND DISCIPLINE

•

TRANSPORT, SUPPLIES AND WORKSHOPS

FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU.

INTERNATIONAL FIRE CHIEFS OF ASIA-1966 CONFERENCE

STAFF CHANGES

PROMOTIONAL EXAMINATIONS

THE INSTITUTION OF FIRE ENGINEERS, HONG KONG BRANCH

HONOURS AND AWARDS

Paragraphs

1 - 30

34 - 37

39 - 41

43 - 45

46 - 52

54 - 56

57 - 59

60 - 74

75 - 79

80 - 101

102 - 103

104 - 105

106 - 107

108 - 111

112

ANNUAL FIRE SERVICE BALL.

APPRECIATION

113

114 115

FIRES OF PARTICULAR INTEREST .

116 154

SPECIAL SERVICES OF PARTICULAR INTEREST .

155 - 164

iii

APPENDICES

Organization Chart.

Causes of Fires, Deaths and Injuries.

Special Service Calls Analysis.

APPENDIX I.

APPENDIX II.

APPENDIX III.

APPENDIX IV.

Fire Prevention Statistics.

APPENDIX V.

APPENDIX VI.

APPENDIX VII.

Summary of Appliances and Equipment.

Workshops Statistics.

Authorized Establishment of Personnel for 1966-67.

APPENDIX VIIIA. Summary of Lectures/Exhibitions given by Fire

Prevention Bureau.

APPENDIX VIIIB.

APPENDIX IX.

APPENDIX X.

APPENDIX XI.

APPENDIX XII.

Summary of Lectures given by Operational

Commands.

Fire Services Department Welfare Fund.

Airport Contingent Statistics.

Fire Service Building Programme.

Training Courses conducted at Fire Service Training

School for 1966-67.

GENERAL SURVEY OF THE YEAR

DURING the year the Service was called upon to deal with 71,788 emergencies, of which 4,970 were outbreaks of fire, 1,040 special service calls and 65,778 ambulance calls.

2. The number of fires represents an increase of 78.5% over last year's figures and is an 'all time high'. Although this is a disappointing return for the time and effort expended in fire prevention propaganda not only by this Service but by many kaifongs and other community agencies, and whilst it points to the need for greater vigilance by all members of the community, it should not give rise to undue alarm, for as noted in the relevant section of this report fatalities decreased and material losses, despite the high number of incidents, was 26% less than last year.

　　　　　3. The incidence of fire is rising throughout the world for a variety of reasons. Not the least of these reasons is that all fires arise from three causes-men, women and children. Not only is the world population mounting rapidly but industrial competition and anxieties are forcing higher productivity demands on communities. Technological develop- ments are persistently outstripping industrial training facilities and there is a diminishing proportion of the labour force which has the training, experience and time to devote to the study, control and instruction of workers in ostensibly non-productive disciplines such as fire preven- tion and personal safety. This applies to Hong Kong as elsewhere and is one of the factors taken into account in forward planning of the Service.

　　　　　4. Notwithstanding the substantial increase in calls, as a result of the implementation of carefully phased development plans the Service was able to meet all demands made upon it and even during the severe rainstorms of 12th June 1966 no call for assistance where life was imperilled remained unanswered.

　　　　　5. The unusually protracted spell of low humidity between October 1966 and January 1967 was a contributory factor in the increased incidence of fire, but as will be seen from the following the increase was generally spread over the entire year. This once again supports

the views expressed in previous annual reports that traditional fire free seasons are disappearing with the mounting preponderance of multi- storey development.

(i) OUTBREAKS OF FIRE

April-October (traditional 'fire free' period) November-March (traditional fire season)

2,473 fires (124 major) 2,497 fires (157 major)

(ii) SPECIAL SERVICE CALLS

April-October

718

November-March

Casualties and Direct Financial Losses

322

6. Whilst the number of fire calls was 78.5% higher than last year the number of fatalities which totalled 20 persons decreased, and the direct material fire losses were confined to 74% of the preceding year.

7. The direct fire loss at $8,512,159 is made up of $3,410,329 in respect of industrial fires and the balance of $5,101,830 relates to fires in domestic and commercial premises.

Direct Financial Losses

April 1966

May 1966

June 1966

July 1966

August 1966

September 1966

October 1966

November 1966

December 1966

January 1967

February 1967

March 1967

...

$1,031,069

465,112

328,642

105,048

53,326

1,304,907

649,614 669,821

351,036 1,617,864 1,591,784

343,936

$8,512,159

9. The per capita fire loss in the Colony based on a population of 4 million amounted to $2.35 as against $24.4 per capita for Britain based on a population of 54 million. This favourable comparison provides no grounds for complacency. The losses in Hong Kong more seriously affected trade balances than those in more advanced countries with well established markets and which are not geographically remote

from the resources needed to rehabilitate and resuscitate industries which have been damaged by fire. Moreover, though price indices are rising throughout the world, the rise in Britain has probably been considerably more pronounced than in Hong Kong, and straightforward comparison of the figures does not, therefore, tell the whole story.

Special Service Calls

　　　　　10. Special service calls, i.e. emergencies not involving fire at which life is imperilled, rose from 604 in 1965-66 to 1,040 in the year under review. 131 of these calls were occasioned by the torrential rainstorms of 12th/13th June 1966 but there was nevertheless a steady increase in these incidents throughout the year.

Ambulance Calls

　　　　　　11. The Ambulance Division of the Service attended 65,778 calls of which 27,876 were of an emergency nature and the balance of 37,902 were non-urgent removals.

Rescues and Injuries

12. 1,514 persons were physically rescued from places of peril during the year, and 1,012 led to safety. This represents an increase of 248 persons or 19.6% compared with the previous year.

Civil Disturbances-Kowloon

　　　　　13. The Service was first alerted for civil emergency duties at about 23.45 hours on 6th April 1966 and remained at emergency 'stand to' formation until 12.10 hours on 12th April 1966.

14. The disturbances did not in any way over-extend the Service's resources but various units were subjected to some physical strain and considerable inconvenience by the long period of 'stand to' and by assault on appliances and fire stations. Fortunately, only superficial injuries and damage were sustained by personnel and equipment.

　　　　　15. During the disturbances the Principal Fire Station (Mong Kok) on the Mainland was attacked by demonstrators who attempted to set fire to the premises but were apprehended by the Police, and several gallons of kerosene were seized. Demonstrators also set fire to the main entrance to Mainland Command Fire Headquarters, Nathan Road but this fire was extinguished before any serious damage was done.

16. Between 12.45 hours on 6th April 1966 and 23.59 hours on the last day of the emergency i.e. 12th April 1966 the Service was called upon to deal with 35 fires attributable to demonstrators, of which only one was serious, i.e. the 4th alarm at Shaws' Building which is briefly reported on in the section on fires of special interest. At or en-route to fires during the demonstrations personnel were subjected to stoning by demonstrators, and in the avoidance of provoking or encouraging further damage or injuries 19 small fires which neither threatened lives nor adjacent property were allowed to burn themselves out, and no Fire Service attendance was afforded to them.

17. Notwithstanding the Service was not over-extended, the disturb- ances did reveal several obsolete features in fire defence planning and vulnerability of fire appliances during public disturbances. In conse- quence, a new and comprehensive emergency defence scheme has been drawn up and can be rapidly implemented should the need arise in the future.

Rainstorms-June 1966

18. Between 00.01 hours and 12.00 hours on 12th June 1966, 13.3 inches of rain fell on the Colony, 9.04 inches falling between 06.00 hours and 09.00 hours, and at one stage the rainfall reached a maximum of 4.3 inches per hour.

19. The rains brought wide spread serious flooding, collapses of highways, buildings and landslides and the wholesale disruption of communications. Hundreds of persons were placed in peril.

20. By 07.35 hours 12th April 1966 virtually all public telephone systems were out of commission, and Harcourt Road Fire Station which houses the main search and rescue units of the Service, Hong Kong Island Fire Control and the Director of Fire Services' Command Post was submerged in water to a depth varying between 3 feet and 6 feet. Communications, mobilizing equipment and records in the Fire Control and Command Post were severely damaged and/or swept away by the flood waters.

21. A temporary Fire Control and a temporary Command Post were established at Fire Service Headquarters, and all search and rescue units from Harcourt Road were reassembled there. Improvised com- munication systems utilizing field telephones and mobile radio vans were set up and were in full operation by 13.05 hours 12th April 1966.

22. Fortunately, although the telephone exchange at Fire Services Headquarters failed early in the emergency it was quickly repaired by Hong Kong Telephone Company workers and remained the only direct link between the public and the Fire Service for some 37 hours.

　　　　　23. With the wholesale break-down of communications and the obviousness that the Colony was experiencing a major disaster, Fire Service units both on foot and on appliances were deployed to patrol all areas of potential danger to render assistance and relief to persons in peril. These sorties did sterling work and though, due to the intensity of pressure on the Service coupled with communication failures, it is impossible to precisely determine the number of incidents they attended, such accounting as is possible indicates that throughout the Colony during the 12th June Fire Service units rescued or led to safety no less than 931 persons.

　　　　　　24. Between 06.50 hours and 23.15 hours the Service received 110 calls for assistance at situations where persons were imperilled. Numerous other calls were received for assistance of a non-humani- tarian nature, i.e. flooding of basements and so on, but in view of the pressure on the Service no response could be made to these calls during the 12th and 13th June 1966.

25. The number of calls does not give a true picture of the pressure on the Service for two main reasons. Firstly, crews frequently came upon and dealt with other incidents en-route to and from the addresses to which they had been originally despatched and were unable under the pressure and vicissitudes of time and weather to keep precise records of all these 'subsidiary' incidents. Secondly, many incidents involved rescue work stretching over many hours, thus consuming all reserve resources and denying personnel opportunities for rest and refresh- ment especially during the 24 hours ending midnight, 12th June 1966.

26. Notwithstanding that many appliances were bogged down on numerous occasions by mud and flood waters and by pressing into service every available vehicle on the Service's charge as emergency rescue units, as mentioned earlier in this report, no call for assistance where lives were at peril remained unanswered by the Service.

27. Simultaneously with the flooding of the Harcourt Road Fire Service complex, the Fire Service Workshops and Stores in the old Naval lands, Queen's Road, East were submerged to a depth of 4 to 6 feet and breached in several places by the flood waters. Several duty

fitters sleeping the Workshops were only saved from drowning by taking refuge on tables and wooden wardrobes, and clinging to them until either they were swept clear of the flood waters or rescued by colleagues.

28. Preliminary survey of the Stores shortly after first light on 12th June 1966 gave rise to fears that the loss/damage would exceed $1 million. However, thanks to the diligence of Fire Service Workshops staff and the whole-hearted co-operation of the Stores Department, Electrical and Mechanical Office and Post Office staff, salvage and rehabilitation work was commenced on 13th June, and although this proved to be a long and tedious exercise, the eventual cost of damage and/or loss was confined to about $75,000.00.

29. In consequence of the rainstorm, Fire Service Stores was temporarily reprovisioned on an upper floor of Fire Brigade Building, Des Voeux Road, Central pending the commissioning of the new Fire Service Headquarters Building at North Point. Hong Kong Island Fire Control and the Director's Command Post, Hong Kong have been temporarily reprovisioned on higher ground adjacent to the present Fire Service Headquarters Building, Queen's Road East pending the construction of the new Hong Kong Island Fire Command Head- quarters in Hennessy Road.

30. Reference to the June rainstorms cannot be concluded without commenting on the commendable assistance rendered to the community and the Fire Service by the Civil Aid Services, the Hong Kong Regiment and regular members of the Army Garrison. Members of these units on their own initiative organized rescue parties and worked tirelessly in appalling conditions to locate and rescue casualties trapped by landslides, house collapses and floodings. There is no doubt that by their resourcefulness and initiative, members of these organizations, by reducing the demand on Fire Service manpower and equipment, enabled this Service to meet all demands upon it.

LUNAR NEW YEAR

31. In co-operation with the Government Information Services and all radio and press agencies an intense publicity campaign was launched to educate the public in the dangers of firecrackers at Lunar New Year, and the 1967 celebrations showed a pleasing decrease in outbreaks of fire attributable to the discharge of firecrackers.

　　　　32. However, whilst the publicity campaign undoubtedly contributed to the reduction in outbreaks of fire, the humid weather which prevailed over the period was again the greatest single contributory factor to the decrease.

CAUSES OF FIRES

33. The supposed causes of fires set out in Appendix II show no significant deviation from the pattern of previous years save perhaps that carelessness appears to be on the increase; 65.5% of the fires in the year under review could be directly attributed to human careless- ness as against 56.4% of the fires in the previous year.

SUMMARY OF FIRE, SPECIAL SERVICE AND

34. Fires

Aircraft

AMBULANCE CALLS

Buildings: (a) Domestic premises

(b) Non-domestic premises

Chimneys

Electrical

Vegetation

Motor Transport

Ships

444

+++

674

522

451

...

2,052

200

651

185

147

Miscellaneous small fires

Squatter arcas

False alarms: (a) with good intent

(b) malicious

35. Special Services

Landslides, house collapses, drowning, etc.

36. Ambulance Calls

Emergencies

Ordinary removals to and from hospitals and clinics.

37. Summary of Alarms for the year was as follows:

1st alarms and small fires

2nd alarms

3rd alarms

4th alarms

...

5th alarms

Disaster alarms Special services

...

1,040

27,876

37,902

4,653

36 240

...

1,040

SKIN DIVING SERVICE

38. Fire Service divers attended 28 calls during the year and recovered 27 bodies. Having regard to the speed with which persons are overcome by immersion and the time factor from receipt of call to attendance at an incident, it must be accepted that the continuance of this service can only be justified as a body recovery unit and not as a true rescue unit.

AMBULANCE SERVICE

39. The Ambulance Service was reconstituted during the year as a semi-autonomous division of the Department and arrangements are in hand for the appointment of an Ambulance Division Adviser who will be responsible to the Director for analysing and evaluating the Colony's ambulance requirements to meet the changing operational and social demands of the Colony and for advising on the reorganization and development of the Ambulance Division.

40. With the reconstitution of the ambulance echelons as a semi- autonomous division the manning of ambulances is now in the hands of personnel recruited and trained purely for these duties and whose career prospects are not influenced by their aptitude or experience in fire fighting disciplines. In consequence, considerably more concentrated training has been given to them in ambulance duties than was hereto- fore possible.

41. Further progress was made in the installation of V.H.F. radios in all ambulances and at the close of the year there were 25 ambulances fitted with radio units. The provision of radio has greatly extended the Ambulance Division capability, and there are seldom any occasions when an ambulance is not immediately available nowadays or cannot be promptly contacted for despatch to emergency cases.

AIRPORT CONTINGENT

42. The Airport Contingent was alerted during the year on 153 declared aircraft emergencies involving 5,268 passengers. Other inci- dents totalled 1,265, which together with the 153 aircraft emergencies represents an increase of 449 calls, or 55.2% against the previous year.

AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE

　　　　　43. The integration of auxiliaries and the raising of their capability to professional standards continued throughout the year. In general, the difference between auxiliaries and professionals in terms of fire fighting efficiency has considerably diminished, and it is now becoming an increasingly practical proposition for auxiliaries when called out to be assigned responsibilities equivalent to those of their professional col- leagues, rank for rank.

　　　　　44. During the Kowloon disturbances and the June rainstorms 510 auxiliaries and 396 auxiliaries respectively were either called upon to report for duty or did so under their own initiative and proved important factors in the maintenance of fire protection during these periods. On numerous other minor occasions auxiliaries were also called out to reinforce professional resources.

　　　　　45. The Auxiliary Fire Service Band gave 9 concerts during the year in public parks and playgrounds, and the rising demand for these services give a pleasing indication of the increasing popularity of this type of entertainment and of the Band's musical proficiency.

RECRUITING AND TRAINING

46. Whilst the Service still suffers very inadequate training facilities, considerable headway was made during the year by the establishment of a temporary training school in the old Naval lands, Queen's Road, East. For the first time in many years it became possible from August 1966 to put all new entrants to the Service through a systematic training programme before posting them to operational duties. Moreover, the establishment of a temporary training school enabled a start to be made on a comprehensive and systematic refresher training programme for all ranks.

47. In the year under review no less than 39 officers and 293 men attended training courses conducted by Fire Service instructors. Appendix XII gives a numerical break-down of these courses.

48. A new post of Senior Training Officer was created in December 1966. The officer appointed to this post is responsible for analysing, planning, standardizing and co-ordinating existing and future training requirements for the whole of the Service both in relation to local courses and overseas training.

49. 4 local officers attended overseas course during the year under review.

Recruiting

50. Whilst the establishment of the Service was increased by 5.6% with effect from 1st April 1966, this represents only about 15% to 20% of the staff ideally required to meet satisfactorily the demands on the Service. Having regard however, to the limited training facilities and the backlog of training to be disposed of any staff increases over and above those which were approved on 1st April 1966 would have, inter alia, resulted in dangerously sacrificing quality for quantity.

51. Since the expansion of the Service was confined to 5.6% during the year, the actual strength and approved establishment once again more closely coincided than had been the case prior to 1964-65.

52. 10 overseas officers were appointed on contract and 4 on secondment for one tour during the year under review. Consequent upon increased training facilities both local and overseas and barring unforeseen contingencies, it is pleasing to record that it is now possible to plan and develop the Service without resorting to any further overseas recruitment.

SEARCH AND RESCUE RESOURCES

53. A comprehensive study of existing and foreseeable search and rescue problems during the year demonstrated that it was essential to augment substantially the Department's search and rescue resources and a plan for this was submitted to Government during the year.

BUILDING ACCOMMODATION

54. During the year the following additional premises were com- missioned:

Fire Services Headquarters Stores & Workshops,

Shau Kei Wan Fire Station,

Morrison Hill Ambulance Depot,

Kennedy Town Fire Station,

Ngau Chi Wan Fire Station,

Ma Tau Chung Ambulance Depot,

Tai Tam Fire Station (Temporary Unit).

55. Fire Service building programme as currently approved for the next 10 years is shown in Appendix XI.

56. The Fire Service infra-structure is based on the policy of fire appliances being able to reach the address of any call within six minutes. Ever mounting traffic problems, highway planning, one way streets, over-passes, under-passes and population drifts have made it necessary to re-evaluate in depth the original long term planning to meet the six minutes attendance policy. Feasibility studies were, there- fore, instituted during the year into the practicability of extending and improving fire cover in the post-1970 period by the provision of fire posts in Government estates and other major building projects. These studies are still under way at the time of going to press.

PHYSICAL TRAINING AND EDUCATION

57. Physical training and recreational programmes were conducted at the Temporary Fire Service Training School and at all fire stations as part of the normal day to day routines.

　　　　　58. The large increase in demands made on the Service during the year further demonstrated the need for qualified physical education instructors to raise and maintain the physical standard of all personnel to the stamina and agility levels required by modern fire fighting operations.

59. Requirements for a fully staffed physical education section have been formulated and at the time of writing of this report is under consideration by Government.

WELFARE AND DISCIPLINE

60. During the year it was necessary to make loans and grants to members of the Service from the Fire Service Welfare Fund totalling some $55,400.00. The statement of accounts of the Fire Service Welfare Fund is shown in Appendix IX.

Yan Yat Fair

61. One of the most important boosts to the morale and welfare of the Service during the year was a Yan Yat Fair at which His Excellency the Governor graciously consented to dot the eyes of the lions. A total of 3,182 members of the Service and their families

attended the Fair which took the form of side shows and exhibition stands between 11.30 to 17.30 hours and culminated in an all ranks supper dance held at the Temporary Fire Service Training School.

62. A nominal charge was made for admission to the Fair but the bulk of the cost was defrayed partly by the Fire Service Sports and Welfare Club, by contributions made by officers in lieu of Christmas cards and Chinese New Year cards, and by a donation of $5,000.00 from the Fire Service Welfare Fund. Credit for the success of the Fair must largely be assigned to the hard work and ingenuity of the Chairman and members of the Fair Committee.

Staff Relations

63. During the year, frequent meetings were held between the Director, the Deputy Director, Chief Fire and Ambulance Officers and the four main Staff Associations, i.e. the Local Officers' Association, the Ambulance Dressers' Union, the Hong Kong Fire Service Staff's General Association and the Fire Service Joint Staff Council. Whilst these meetings generally included warm discussion on the subject of salaries and allowances, many useful and fruitful discussions were held which strengthened the mutual respect and confidence between all sections.

64. As will be seen from the following paragraphs, the Fire Service Sports and Welfare Club under the Chairmanship of Senior Fire Officer Class I R. H. Moss had a most successful year in all fields of sports and athletics.

Football

65. In the Hong Kong Football Association League Competition, Fire Service teams considerably improved their standard of play compared with the previous season. The 2nd Division team finished top of the league jointly with Telephones and were thus assured of promotion to the 1st Division. The 3rd Division team finished in 3rd position in the league table. A combined Fire Service team were defeated in the semi-final of the Jubilee Cup and therefore gave up the trophy which they won last year.

Basketball

66. In the Hong Kong Amateur Basketball Association Junior Grade Competition, the Service team reached the finals for the third

successive year, but again narrowly missed promotion to the Senior Grade and finished in 3rd place.

Volleyball

　　　　67. In the Commerce and Industry Cup run by the Hong Kong Amateur Volleyball Association the Fire Service team finished in 4th place. The team also participated in the District Volleyball Competition and finished in 5th position.

68. The inter-Service competition for the Cox Trophy was won by Principal Fire Station, Mainland after an extremely keen and interesting series of matches.

Swimming

69. The Fire Service entered a team of 4 and 3 individual participants in the Annual Cross harbour race. The team finished in 5th place and all 7 swimmers completed the crossing within the time limit and were awarded certificates. In the Colony Swimming Cham- pionships, Fireman 2435 JIM Kwok-hung attained 2nd place in the Senior Grade 100 metres and 200 metres Breast Stroke races. The Service team was 3rd in the Senior 4 x 100 metres Free Style Relay. Fire Service teams finished first in the N.T. Administration Gala and Royal Life Saving Association Inter-Departmental Invitation Relays. The Fire Service entered teams for the first time in the Water-Polo League and Shield Competitions and won both titles. Nine firemen sat the Bronze Medallion Examination set by the Royal Hong Kong Life Saving Association and were awarded certificates.

Athletics

　　　　　70. Service teams were entered in the Hong Kong Amateur Athletic Association's Colony Championships, The Omega Meet and The 10th Festival of Sport, and in the Colony Championships achieved the following results:

200 metres Low Hurdles

Fireman Class II

1488

WONG Hon-kwong

1st

Pole Vault

Fireman Class II

615

CHAN Tak-fu

2nd

4 × 100 m. Relay

Fire Service

2nd

4 × 400 m. Relay

Fire Service

2nd

Fire Service teams did particularly well in the Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servant's Sports Association Inter-Departmental Meet, winning 11 out of the 13 main events. The Service teams also participated in Athletic Competitions conducted by the Urban Services, the Police, Hong Kong Lions, Royal Air Force and Hong Kong Post-Secondary Colleges.

Walkathon

71. 11 members of the Service entered this event, 5 of whom completed the course within the specified time limit and were awarded certificates. Fireman 2033 TANG Chu-ho finished in 3rd place and two other firemen finished in the first ten.

Table Tennis

72. The Table Tennis team won the Governor's Cup of the Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants' Sports Association Inter-Departmental Competition for the third year in succession, thus retaining it perma- nently for the Service.

Discipline

73. Whilst the number of disciplinary offences showed an increase over the previous year, the general standard of discipline was exception- ally good. Last year 2.3% of the Service were charged with disciplinary offences under the provisions of the Fire Service Ordinance, and in the year under review 3.5% were similarly charged. Disciplinary cases may be summarized as follows:

(i) Number of cases

(ii) Personnel involved (iii) Punishments:

(a) reduction in rank

(b) total fines imposed

(d) extra drills

(e) total sum recovered to defray the cost of lost or

damaged equipment

Criminal Offences

...

$76.30

74. During the year it is pleasing to record that from a force of 2,538 members, none was convicted of a criminal offence, excluding minor traffic infringements.

TRANSPORT, SUPPLIES AND WORKSHOPS

　　　　75. The division is responsible for providing and maintaining all operational resources and has maintained a consistently high standard and output of work as shown in Appendices V and VI.

Construction of Appliances

　　　　76. Two light rescue units constructed on Ford F 100 chassis, and one hose and ladder carrier constructed on a Commer chassis were completed during the year. In addition, Mobile Command Unit No. 1 was fitted with a telephone switchboard and a collapsible lean-to structure designed to provide covered control and communication facilities for liaison officers of various Government Departments at disaster incidents.

Journey Recorders

　　　　77. A further 24 tachograph journey recorders were installed on ambulances bringing to 48 the number of fire appliances and ambulances fitted with this equipment. The recorders provide data for forward planning, analysis of work loads and adjustment of ambulance schedules.

Accidents to Fire Service Vehicles

78. The total mileage of Fire Service units increased by 86,698 miles, but despite this it is pleasing to note that the number of accidents involving Fire Service Vehicles decreased slightly. They totalled 122 this year as compared to 131 last year. Driving instruction courses were intensified and a total of 440 driving and pump operating tests were conducted.

Transfer of Premises

　　　　79. The transfer of the Workshops and Stores to the new Head- quarters Building at North Point was commenced during March and by the end of the month the movement of 80% of Workshops Staff, plant and equipment together with 25% of Fire Service Stores was completed without any dislocation of normal routines and issues.

FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU

　　　　80. The Fire Prevention Bureau has continued to expand its activities and is now being called upon more frequently by all members of the community for advice on matters of fire safety.

81. In order to keep pace with technological advancements it has been found necessary to institute a Fire Prevention Training Course for in-service officers. The syllabus for the course is modelled on pro- grammes of various overseas Fire Service Colleges modified to meet Colony conditions and whilst, due to the lack of adequate training facilities, the course does not as yet achieve the standard desired, its value is already being reflected in the vastly improved standard of reporting shown by the 31 Fire Officers Class III who have to date undergone the course.

82. This course is to be followed shortly by an intermediate one and in the not too distant future by an advanced one.

83. The number of inspections of all types has increased consider- ably as may be seen in Appendix IV to this Report. An interesting feature of this increase of more than 100% is its relativity to the increase of staff in the Bureau, the figures being almost directly proportional.

Building (Ventilation) Regulations

84. Mr. J. R. S. PICKETT, Air Conditioning Inspector, took up his duties in the Bureau in connexion with the Building (Ventilation) Regulations on 10th January 1967. Already almost 1,000 premises have been recorded as requiring inspection under these regulations, and it is becoming increasingly obvious that if the obligations placed on the Service by these regulations are to be adequately met additional trained staff will have to be found for this section of the Bureau.

Abatement of Fire Hazards

85. With the increase in the number of complaints received, work in this field has become increasingly complex. Probably the greatest problem has been the serving of fire hazard notices in multi-storey buildings. Many such buildings have no management associations and in such cases the multiplicity of ownership often makes the apportion- ment of responsibility an extremely difficult task, fortunately however most hazards are usually removed by those responsible on being warned of the dangers involved and legal action is therefore unnecessary. When such warnings are ignored, notices are served in accordance with the provisions of Section 7B of the Fire Services Ordinance. In the course of the year a total of 1,938 such notices were served but only 125 required legal action.

　　　　86. A recent amendment to the Fire Services Ordinance provided for the serving of fire hazard abatement notices by post and this has resulted in considerable time-saving since previously all notices were served by hand.

Complaints

87. Complaints from the general public can be received at any time of the day or night and duty Fire Prevention Officers are available throughout the 24 hours to deal with such matters. The majority of complaints refer to genuine infringements, but quite a number are of a malicious nature, often related to tenant disputes and these often result in a great deal of wasted time. Officers investigating reported obstructions to means of escape often find that these are removed in their presence, or after receipt of a fire hazard notice, only to re-appear at some later date. To ensure that this does not occur would require constant policing of all buildings. The staff required precludes this course of action, neither is it particularly desirable as this is considered a responsibility of the occupants. Unfortunately some owners and occupiers of many buildings choose to ignore the legal and moral obligations involved in multi-storey development and consequently the well being of countless people is unnecessarily exposed to possible fire hazards.

New Building Plans

88. A total of 2,016 project plans were received and processed during the year. This is an increase of 586 over the previous year and whilst these figures do not necessarily indicate the number of buildings erected they must surely indicate that Hong Kong's redevelopment continues apace.

Fire Service Installations

89. Inspections of private premises in accordance with the provisions of the Building Ordinance resulted in 888 completed installations being passed during the year.

　　　　　90. These inspections have highlighted the need for some form of control over the standards of fire service installations and a Fire Engineers Control Bill is in the course of being introduced for the purpose of ensuring installations are of a satisfactory standard.

　　　　91. Poor installations necessitated 316 re-inspections being made during the year resulting in loss of valuable time in a section of the Bureau which is already working to capacity.

92. The provision and testing of fire equipment in Government buildings continues to increase and has necessitated an increase of staff and the exclusive use of two light vehicles in this section.

Buildings

93. In keeping with technical advancements and rising value of property, fire defence has of need, become more sophisticated. More developers are turning to automatic detection and attack systems in their projects. These systems are principally heat or smoke detection units sometimes coupled with inert gas extinguishing media for the protection of hazardous industries, computers or public buildings. During the past year some Government establishments have been fitted with smoke detection and heat sensitive units which will indicate a fire situation within minutes of its origin. It is anticipated that all such systems will ultimately be connected directly to the nearest Fire Station so as to speed the relay of a fire call from its point of origin to the Fire Service. This facility will be accorded when a suitable termination unit has been selected and enquiries at present in hand completed.

Dangerous Goods

94. Duties in connexion with this sphere of activity have shown a marked degree of increased co-operation from licensees and developers resulting in a better understanding of the problems involved by all concerned.

95. The problem of storage of dangerous goods from seizures has been somewhat eased on Hong Kong Island as a result of the provision of a number of dangerous goods stores in the Pok Fu Lam area. The problem in Kowloon, however, is becoming more acute and all attempts to secure suitable storage have to date been unsuccessful.

Factories & Industrial Undertakings

96. Co-operation between the Labour Department and the Bureau remains excellent. The greatest problem in this field has in the past been the necessity to tolerate the presence of industrial concerns in premises not originally designed for industrial purposes. It is gratifying to record that the justification for such tolerance seems to be drawing to a close. More factory space is becoming available for rent and concomitant to this is the decrease in the number of industrial concerns being registered provisionally or otherwise in other than industrial buildings.

Schools, Restaurants & Places of Public Entertainment and Assembly

　　　　97. This section of the Bureau works in conjunction with the Education Department, Urban Council and the Commissioner of Police who are the licensing and registration authorities for the undertakings concerned. The liaison with all these departments is good but inevitably difficulties do arise. In places of public entertainment these difficulties are principally encountered in the field of 'occasional' entertainment e.g. matshed theatres, temporary stage shows etc. where the maintenance of reasonable standards of safety for the audience is constantly under review.

98. In the case of schools the demand for school places is con- stantly on the increase and officers in this section have the difficult task of treading the fine line that separates the acceptable from the positively dangerous in relation to premises not designed for school purposes.

　　　　99. So far as restaurants are concerned new administrative arrange- ments formulated between the Bureau and the Urban Council are confidently expected to stream-line the processing of licensing applica- tions and at the same time ensure that the safety of restaurant patrons is in no way diminished. Apart from the initial problems related to suitability of premises in this field one of the greatest hazards is the overcrowding of these places during festive seasons. The Bureau is now doing an increasing number of inspections during peak periods to keep check on these conditions. Such inspections are being made not only to restaurants but to all places where a licensee invites the public to his premises as a licence holder is obliged to ensure that the people he invites in no way have their safety placed in jeopardy.

Public Relations and Fire Prevention Education

　　　　100. In co-operation with the Government Information Services, rural committees, kaifong associations and numerous other community agencies Fire Prevention Bureau personnel and staff of the operational Fire Commands conducted fire prevention exhibitions, training courses and gave lectures to members of the public throughout the year as listed in Appendix VIIIA and VIIIB.

101. The Fire Prevention Bureau again provided a senior fire officer to lecture on fire prevention to architectural undergraduates at the University of Hong Kong and also an officer undertook similar lectures for students at the Hong Kong Technical College.

INTERNATIONAL FIRE CHIEFS OF ASIA--1966

CONFERENCE

102. In January 1966, 6 members of the Bangkok Police Fire Brigade attended various training courses conducted by the Hong Kong Fire Service, and in reciprocation of these facilities the Bangkok authorities invited three senior Hong Kong Fire Service officers to Bangkok as their guests for 8 days in November 1966. Acting Assistant Chief Fire Officer R. H. Moss, Senior Fire Officer Class II BOEY Kim-lun and Acting Senior Fire Officer Class II Woo Kwan-kuen were sent to Bangkok in response to this invitation.

103. The visit of the Hong Kong officers coincided with the 1966 Conference of The International Fire Chiefs' Association of Asia, and opportunity was taken for these three officers to attend the Conference as observers. In the event, however, the officers were prevailed upon to play a more active part in the Conference and to address the delegations on various technical matters. As a result, the visit proved not only an important factor in enhancing good relations between the Bangkok and Hong Kong Fire Services but also an invaluable exchange of information and technical intelligence.

STAFF CHANGES

104. Mr. A. S. HENDERSON was appointed Chief Fire Prevention Officer on 1st June 1966 and placed in command of the Fire Preven- tion Bureau.

105. The following promotions were effected during the year:

(i) Officers

•

District Fire Officer to Chief Fire Prevention Officer Senior Fire Officer Class I to Assistant Chief Fire Officer Senior Fire Officer Class II to Senior Fire Officer Class I Fire Officer Class I to Senior Fire Officer Class II Fire Officer Class II to Fire Officer Class I Fire Officer Class III to Fire Officer Class II Direct appointees and promotions from rank and file to

Fire Officer Class III

(ii) Rank and File

Senior Firemen to Principal Firemen Leading Firemen to Senior Firemen Firemen Class I to Leading Firemen Firemen Class II to Firemen Class I

...

PROMOTIONAL EXAMINATIONS

106. During the year the following promotional examinations were conducted:

(i) Senior Professional Examination

(ii) Hong Kong Fire Officers Certificate Class 1 Examination

(iii) Hong Kong Fire Officers Certificate Class II Examination (iv) Principal Firemen Examination

(v) Leading Firemen Examination

(vi) Firemen Class I Examination

　　　　107. A total of 385 candidates sat for departmental promotional examinations of whom 244 were successful.

THE INSTITUTION OF FIRE ENGINEERS

HONG KONG BRANCH

108. Although not confined to the Department, membership of the Branch is almost entirely made up of our serving members. During the past year the membership has increased considerably and now stands at 151. Membership is divided into the following grades:

Members

Associates

Graduates

Licenciates

Students

...

100

109. Successes in the 1966 examinations were largely confined to the Associate examination where six members qualified while only one success was recorded in the Graduate section.

110. Three Branch members were elevated to the grade of Member by the Institution during the year.

　　　　111. The Third Annual Dinner was held in the Hong Kong Club and the Colonial Secretary, the Honourable M. D. Irving GASS, C.M.G., attended as principal guest.

HONOURS AND AWARDS

112. The following members of the Service were honoured by Her Majesty the Queen:

(i) Birthday Honours, 1966 Mr. LAI Yuen-ping

Mr. M. K. Lane

Mr. BOEY Kim-lun

Mr. CHENG Tuck-yung

(ii) New Year Honours, 1967 Mr. LEUNG Shun-yiu

Mr. IP Hing-cheung

(iii) Gallantry Awards

Mr. CHEUNG Kwai-chau Mr. Law Kim-chuen Mr. CHENG Yee-hung Mr. HEUNG Sik-yum

British Empire Medal